The library attracts more than 500,000 visitors each year, Cun says, and it organizes cultural activities almost every month to enrich locals.

Over the past couple of years exhibitions such as bird photographs taken in nearby Gaoligong Mountain have attracted as many as 100,000 visitors over a week, and cultural scholars are often invited to give lectures there.

"In recent years the traditional functions of libraries have changed, so we are trying to expand other cultural services so as to build our library into a cultural center," Cun says.

Cun, 43, who lives in Heshun, has served as chief librarian since 2011 and says he regards it as a tremendous honor because his great grandfather was one of the council members when the library was founded.

"For the people of Heshun the library has become a cultural icon. We all have special feelings about it."

Some of the local residents have even donated pot plants to decorate the library, and others have donated newspapers or magazines, he says.

The library has a staff of six, including Cun, and all have received training in library management.

The library has been working to digitalize its collection, more than a million pages of books and other materials having been scanned.